Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-12-22


At this point Mr.. Blackburn called the
courts attention to the absence OF tie de-
PENDANT.
LET him be brought in,'' said the judge
In two minutes the marshal entered, 1ol-
lowed by Mr.. Harper, pale and '5oncerneo-
Behind him came his wife, her face study.
1t looked as If she was upborne by falth
that In some way she was to hear good
news from that jury. Miss Matthews, per
sister, followed. as calm as she could COM
pose herself to be. When they were seated
the clerk took the sealed envelope enclos-
ing the sentence, tore it open and read the
fatal words:
1--WE the jury, find the defendant guilty
as charged In the indictment"
This meant guilty on all the thirty-three'
counts left for the jury to act upon. There
WAS no outcry from either of the women
Mrs. Harper sat as If transfxed, but Miss
Matthews found relief in tears, which she
struggled with all her power to repress.
Mr. Blackburn moved an arrest OF 1udg-
ment which the court instantly overruled-
Then District Attorney Burnett moved for
immediate sentence, and that the sentence
be cumulative.
Judge Sage IN a long opinion stated the
result Of his investigation on the question
of cumulative sentences in a case ike this.
and this gave some relief to the suddenness
of the blow upon Mr.. Harper's family. He
finally overruled the motion and asked il
the defendant had any thing TO say before
sentence was pronounced upon him
Mr.. Blackburn arose and said that the
defendant wished to speak through him,
and 10 say that he had nothing TO add TO
what had been said, except TO thank the
court for its fair and impartial treatment,
and to ask that the cours be as merciful
circumstances and the law would permit.
At 10:25 the court directed Harper to
stand up. 1t was most distressing scene.
The strong man stood erect with tears
coursing down his cheeks but no other sign
of emotion save his blanched face. Behind
his chair, with bowed head, sat his wife,
in an agony that had no better manifestas-
ton than the wringing OF her hands Tears
did not come to her relief. Miss Matthews,
far more demonstrative, still repressed
sobs, and in her own distress reached
over TO try and comfort her sister by a
touch. She thus sat while the court with
impressive solemnity recited the usual
form of sentence, saying the evidence left
no doubt Of the defendants guilt, and that
the offense merited the highest penalty of
the law, which the court will now impose,
ten years IN the Ohio penitentiary, and
that the marshal convey him thither at
once.
Still no outcry. Mr. Harper sat down,
turning 10 his wife. Their lips met, her
hands were around his neck, his arms en-
compassed her. The silence in the coart.
room was awful. Jurors wept, women and
men all over the court room were in tears.
The silence was broken by Mr.. BLACKBURN
making IL last request from the court.
That was that the order for imme-
date imprisonment be suspended, and
he gave as u reason that there was much
business to be attended to by Harper in
which his wife was closely concerned, and
it would be exceedingly difficult to attend
TO it unless Mr. Harper could remain here
for few days.
But the court was relentless. Judge Sage
said there would be opportunity for his
wife to see him in Columbus. and he re-
peated the order to the marshal TO convey
hlnI thither to-day.
At 10:30 the jury was discharged, and
Marshal Urner conducted the defendant to
the marshal's office.
After the scenes in the court room Harper
and his family spent some time in the mar
shal's office, and then went to the Jail
where he spent the afternoon in his room
preparing Tor his departure. The bedding,
trunk and other property were taken out
b N and he babe them good bye.
1t was ten O'Clock at night when Harper
reached the penitentiary at Columbus. He
was assigned TO cell ia block !, range /,
in the new part Of the prison building,
where the cells are quite large and airy.